The Acorn restaurant plans to bring “fresh face” to vegetarian food in Vancouver

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      In a space previously occupied by an Italian eatery, Shira Blustein and Brian Skinner are cooking up what they hope will be the next big thing to hit Vancouver’s vegetarian-dining scene.

      When Cipriano’s closed its doors at 3995 Main Street earlier this year, the pair of long-time friends seized the opportunity to fulfill their shared dream of starting up a vegetarian restaurant and bar. They hope to open the Acorn on July 1.

      “We want to bring a fresh face to vegetarian food in this city,” Skinner told the Georgia Straight, standing beside Blustein in the South Main restaurant’s future kitchen. “Not that we have anything against brown rice and tofu, but we’re trying to break that mould, and trying to create something that will inspire people and bring something different to the city.”

      A 32-year-old instructor at the Pacific Institute of Culinary Arts, Skinner has 15 years of cooking experience. He spent five years working as a chef at Michelin-starred restaurants in Europe, including Viajante and Sketch in London and Noma in Copenhagen. He also helped open Otarian vegetarian eateries in London and New York.

      With Skinner as its chef, the Acorn will be managed by Blustein. The 30-year-old lives in the neighbourhood and has a background in human resources and music.

      According to the business partners and former vegetarians, their idea to open a restaurant dates back several years.

      “We realized even back then how woefully underserved vegetarian diners were in the city,” Skinner said. “So we realized the potential to have some variety in the vegetarian-dining scene.”

      To that end, the Acorn will serve “vegetable-focused” and seasonal food that’s unique in Vancouver and contains flavours that are “tasty and interesting and different and new and fresh”, according to Skinner. They plan to work with local farms and offer vegan, gluten-free, and raw options.

      Preparations are still in the early stages, but they anticipate pricing appetizers in around the $8 to $10 range, and mains in the $16 to $19 range. The restaurant’s business hours will be limited to evenings. In addition to its dinner menu, the Acorn will have a late-night menu listing “bits and nibbles” to go with drinks. But they’re not ruling out expanding their hours in the future.

      “The main reason we want to open a vegetarian restaurant is because we really enjoy working with and serving vegetables,” Skinner said. “To us, that’s what we believe is the freshest, most delicious food. So we just want to bring that to the customers in the most inventive and fresh way possible. It just boils down to the fact that we really, really like vegetables.”

      According to Blustein, the Acorn is aimed at everybody—vegans, vegetarians, and omnivores.

      “What we’re really hoping is that it will be the kind of place where everyone can come in and enjoy it,” Blustein said. “You can bring a date. You can have your birthday dinner here. It’s that kind of space, where it feels sexy and classy. But also you can come and hang out, have a drink, sit at the bar, and eat some snacks.”

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      Comments

      14 Comments

      tofunky

      May 1, 2012 at 10:57pm

      So, they're not vegetarians!? Ohhhh kaaaay, that doesn't inspire much confidence...

      R2

      May 1, 2012 at 11:05pm

      Cipriano's closed? Oh no say it ain't so.

      Tyler

      May 2, 2012 at 7:04am

      Looking forward to it.

      twilight77

      May 2, 2012 at 8:22am

      So what if they're former vegetarians. A good chef is a good chef. Period. With that attitude you might want to stick to the tofu and brown rice places.

      JC

      May 2, 2012 at 9:30am

      There is one caveat to vegetarian instead of vegan food. Evidence suggests that casein, a cow milk protein, when ingested with plant foods, binds with all the healing antioxidants and renders them USELESS to our body! It's so easy and healthier to be vegan!

      Why would someone choose to be vegan? To help end world hunger for one! Here are two uplifting videos to help everyone understand why so many people are making this life affirming choice: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fKr4HZ7ukSE and http://www.veganvideo.org

      how soon is now

      May 2, 2012 at 11:47am

      Cipriano's was a neighbourhood institution because it was always there, not because it was actually any good.

      Carole C

      May 2, 2012 at 12:18pm

      This is the type of restaurant Vancouver desperately needs. We have lots of good veggie restos, but a more high end one is definitely needed. This is great news. Hopefully lots of vegan options.

      Carl Nivorous

      May 2, 2012 at 1:57pm

      Vegetarian food tastes a lot better with bacon.

      Julie P

      May 2, 2012 at 5:25pm

      Finally! This is good news.

      My 2 Cents

      May 2, 2012 at 7:02pm

      I look forward to checking this out. There is lots of room for more vegetarian/vegan places in the Metro Vancouver area. As a long time vegetarian I've never been able to understand why more restaurants can't figure out how to offer more than salads, fettuccine alfredo and veggie burgers.